A report into Welsh-medium education in Gwynedd – held after the last census figures showed a fall in the number of speakers – has called for two new language centres to help halt the decline.

A special "task force" set up by Gwynedd council to look at how its language policy was being implemented found “disparities” in the county’s schools in terms of the language used in different situations.

The group focused on the Ardudwy (Harlech), Bangor and Botwnnog areas. Generally, pupils’ attitudes towards the Welsh language were found to be “very positive”.

Its main recommendation was that there was a need to set up a language centre in Bangor and an “immersion centre” in Ardudwy (Harlech) to enable newcomers - many of whom come from the Birmingham area in the case of Harlech - to speak Welsh.

The report looked at the extent of the social use of Welsh by children in classrooms, corridors, cafeterias and school yards, and also gathered evidence from teachers, governors and parents.

The group’s 24 recommendations were all supported by the council’s services scrutiny committee at Caernarfon.

In addition, the committee also backed a proposal by Abersoch councillor Wyn Williams to contact Estyn and the Welsh Government to see what their role is in ensuring Welsh language education in private and independent schools so that they and their pupils can contribute and be of benefit to local communities.

He said: “I’m worried that pupils who attend private schools leave without being able to speak Welsh. It’s imperative that they are bilingual to get work.”

Llanuwchllyn councillor Alan Jones Evans also called for Gwynedd to contact taxi owners who take children to and from language centres to ask if they can provide Welsh speakers so that use of the language is "normalised” for pupils.

Among the other recommendations were:

- Ensuring a standard linguistic definition for every secondary school and hold them and their governors accountable for its implementation.

- Set targets to increase the number of children proficient in both Welsh and English and ensure exam results are as good in both languages.

- Help to ensure teaching assistants and ancillary staff learn Welsh.

- Ensure the Language Charter is used in every primary school in Gwynedd.

- Promote with parents the advantages of multilingualism and embrace the Welsh language..

- Discuss with Bangor University the possibility of setting up a specific standard to develop skills in Welsh and for prospective teachers.

In addition, they want Ysgol Friars in Bangor, with the council’s support, to find opportunities to more widely use the Welsh language across the curriculum and life of the school.

Investigation group chairman Cllr Alwyn Gruffydd said: “It’s a case of ‘room for improvement’. There are strengths, especially with the work of the language centres, but we will have to keep coming back to ensure the language gains ground.”

The council hopes the recommendations can be adopted as soon as possible. A further updated report will be made in six months’ time.